The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-01
UNCLE SANS SOLDIERS.
Many OF the Present OHicers Said to b
Too Old for Actixa Service.

hany OF the Present Ohicers said to be |
Too Old for Active Service.
The formation of q committee COM
posed OF officers of the regular army
and the militia of the several States to
agitate the question of having annual
encampments and maneuvers in which
the National and State forces shall par
ticipate is well received by army men.
particularly by the younger officers.
; The establishment of such a practical
school of instruction would be of great
value to the National Guard, and equal
ly as valuable to the rank and file of
the regular army. In conversation,
young officer who has served many
years on the frontier, said:
Il heartily wish the autumn-man-
euver project may succeed. What
shaking up it would create among the
old officers, both field and line! Why,
If the regular army was called upon
next week for active service compare
lively few of the field officers could ac-
company their regiments by reason of
physical disability. You may notice
that occasionally orders are issued from
the War Department for regiments to
exchange stations. and frequently these
orders provide that the exchange shall
be made by marching. The actual
marching is done by the enlisted men
and subaltern officers, while the field
and staff do their marching in spring
wagons and Pullman cars. not because
they prefer these vehicles, but because
physical disabilities prevent them from
accompanying their regiments.
1--WE have cavalry officers in the act
i've service who have not mounted a
horse for years, and many others who
are unable to ride for five consecutive
hours. The same is true of the artil-
lery and infantry. In the latter corps
there are few one-legged company
officers. Think of one-legged Captain
or Lieutenant in a marching regiment
The army is now in the condition it was
when the war began in 1861. 1t was
then differed by old men, who were at
once shaken out when hostilities began,
and the young men had to take their
places. Why not retire these old and
disabled officers and promote the young
men. that they may by exercise of COM
mand, be prepared for the emergency
that is liable to arise at any time? The
seniors have done good service and de-
serve grateful consideration, but they
should not be continued from feeling
of mere sentiment when their continu-
ance is at the expense OF the efficiency
of the army.
"Let ME show you some figures /
have collected bearing upon this ques-
ton. We have ten regiments of cavalry.
This is hard service and requires active
young men. The youngest cavalry
Colonel is fifty-four. OF the other nine.
four are over sixty and eight are
over fifty-seven. OF the Lieuten-
ant-ColOnels eight are over fifty
and three are over fifty-seven.
OF the Majors eight are over fifty -five,
and eighteen over fifty. OF the 120
Captains of cavalry. twenty-four are
over fifty, and fifty-six have passed their
forty-ifth birthday. Look at the artil-
lery. All Its Colonies have passed sixty.
and all its Lieutenant-C olonels fifty-five.
The oldest Major is fifty-seven and the
youngest fOrty-fve, while tifty-One
Captains have passed forty-five and five
First Lieutenants have passed fifty. OF
the twenty-five infantry Colonies TWEEN
ty-three are upward of fifty, and the
other two are fOrty-nine. Twenty-One
Colonies and thirteen Majors
have passed fifty. while ninety Captains
have passed that age and 1913 are over
forty-fve. Among the First Lieuten-
ants of infantry l find thirty-two who
are over forty-tive, and twenty who arc
over fifty. If Congress would do some
thing, even to retire from the army the
blind, the lame and the halt officers,
the efficiency of the military service
would be increased and the esprit de
corps materially advanced. The estab-
lishment of fall maneuvers, provided
all officers were required to exercise
their proper command, would make
plain the absolute necessity for closer
inspection of tie regular army and the
wedding out of the inefficient. Wash
ington Cor. Chicago Nc,Cs.